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1/26/2011

Carl Bloch - The Master's Hand

Our family went to the BYU Museum of Art for family night on Monday evening. I was so moved by what we saw. First we viewed a high-definition video projected on three huge walls, displaying Danish churches and landscapes as well as the king's oratory at Frederiksborg Castle, where Bloch's 23 paintings on the life of Christ hang. Carl Bloch, a 19th-century Danish artist, spent 14 years crafting these paintings. My last name is Baadsgaard because I married a man with Danish ancestors. We enjoyed seeing the landscapes that are home to the Baadsgaard family.

The exhibit features 5 of Bloch's 8 large alter paintings and dozens of his etchings and paintings. I loved the painting "The Daughter of Jairus" where Bloch focuses on the moment of deepest despair yet in the darkened doorway stands Christ bringing hope.

"Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth." (Mark 5:39).

Carl Bloch

Bloch fell out of favor when the modern movement took over the art world. He never fell out of favor in my heart. I have seen and loved his work for my entire life. Mormon church publications and magazines have featured his work since I was a child.

It gives me hope to learn that Bloch was very sensitive and often doubted his own abilities. Even when his contemporaries were praising him and he was winning awards and medals, he wondered if he was good enough. My own self-doubt finds hope through his paintings for he helps me see my Savior in the doorway bringing hope.

Each piece invited me to contemplate the life of Christ - to ask, "Who is this Christ?" I found myself longing to knell, pray, give thanks, adore, honor and to live a better life because I know Jesus and want to be like Him.

What the Baadsgaard Coat of Arms Means

* Fleur-de-lis: Purity and light* Anchor: Hope and religious steadfastness - acts as a reference to the naval interpretation of the name “Baadsgaard”*Pen and inkwell: Educated employment and the art of writing* Open book: Manifestation—a declared interest in education (and represents the literary accomplishments of the family)* White rose: Hope, joy, love and faith - this particular style of rose is known as the Yorkshire rose, a reference to the British origins of the Wolsey, Parrish and Beck family)* Star: Celestial goodness, excellence and nobility of character. The number of stars corresponds to the number of children in the family…)* Angel Moroni: Activity in the LDS church and faith in the restored Gospel

Shield Supporters* Stag: Peace and harmony; one who will not fight unless provoked* Angel: dignity, glory and honor; missionary; bearer of joyful news* Helmet: Facing left, the helmet indicates loyalty to God (additionally, this helmet is a rough approximation of the helmet found on the Danish Baads family coat of arms)

Mantling: Usually a purely artistic touch; however, the red flowers growing near the base of the shield are woodbine, which symbolize “Love that does not injure that which it clings to”.Banner :This is a motto or phrase with special meaning to the family: Cum uterque pedis contactus terra, nequeo induco bracæ. Translated loosely, it means “If you keep both feet on the ground, you can’t get your pants on.”